Montgomery County health officials urge residents to stay home as COVID-19 cases rise to 393

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Montgomery County confirmed 16 new cases Monday from the county’s last update Saturday, which pushed the county’s total COVID-19 case total to 393.

“It is important that all Montgomery County residents are abiding by the statewide stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Greg Abbott,” a release from the Montgomery County Hospital District said. “As testing becomes more available, we expect to see a continued rise in COVID-19 cases.”

Despite this message from the hospital district, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough ended the local stay-at-home order Friday, but said the county will remain under orders and guidelines of the state. Keough also lifted the curfew placed on residents.

In a video statement Friday, Keough said his decision to terminate the local order and follow the state’s orders means nothing will be “standing in the way” locally as Abbott works to roll out a phased plan to reopen businesses.

As of Monday, 43 people have been hospitalized, 103 have recovered, 2,400 are in social isolation, and seven people have died from COVID-19 in Montgomery County.

“We have received some tests, we’re getting more tests in, and we’re coming up with a plan on how to implement that on a mass scale,” said Misti Willingham, public information officer for the Montgomery County Hospital District.

Details of the plan for more testing are still being worked out, Willingham said, but details will hopefully be available by the end of the week.

Most of the latest cases are still under investigation as to how transmission occurred, but the majority of all active cases have been determined to be caused by community spread. Of the 393 cases, 243 were determined to be transmitted through community spread.

Willingham said that while she has seen residents practicing many of the suggested restrictions and guidelines for social distancing and safety, she thinks it would be good to see more people wearing masks while out in public.

A week ago, on April 13, the county reported 266 cases. Two weeks ago, on April 6, the county was reporting 161 cases, less than half of the number of current confirmed cases.